Upper neck (level II) dissection for N0 neck supraglottic carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: Elective neck dissection for the N0 neck in head and neck surgery is still controversial. This prospective nonrandomized study of N0 supraglottic carcinoma was designed to find an appropriate method of neck management. STUDY DESIGN: Anatomical studies show that the first echelon of lymphatic drainage from the supraglottic larynx is toward the upper jugular nodes (level II). An upper neck dissection (UND) was applied and all the lymph nodes were sent for frozen section. If the subclinical metastasis was found, a modified neck dissection was performed. If the nodes harbored no foci of cancer, the patients were observed after surgery on the supraglottic lesions. METHODS: Patient records of 142 patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer (T1-4N0M0) were reviewed, with special attention paid to neck recurrences and survival rates. The cases were treated between 1976 and 1990 and all were observed for at least 5 years after the operation or until the time of death. RESULTS: The UND specimens of 142 patients were negative for metastasis. The 5-year survival rate for this group after surgery was 80.8%, according to the life table analysis. Fifteen of the 142 patients (10.6%) had neck recurrences during the period of observation within 5 years. The recurrence rate of this series with limited dissection on the neck was comparable with those reported in the literature after neck dissection, either radical or modified. CONCLUSIONS: There is no need for a comprehensive neck dissection for N0 supraglottic laryngeal cancer. A selective neck dissection such as UND (level II) or a supraomohyoid neck dissection (sparing the submandibular region) of level II and III will serve the purpose of radical neck treatment for the supraglottic cancer.